9781422275191

Chapter 1

WHAT DO ROBOTICS DEVELOPERS DO? WHAT IS A ROBOT?

The robots are coming! The robots are coming! Newsflash: They’re already here and playing an increasingly large role in our lives. But these robots (which are also known as “droids”) are not like the killer droids we see in movies and on television. Instead, they have been introduced to make our lives better. So, what exactly is a robot? Experts disagree on one single definition, but a robot can basically be described as an autonomous machine that is designed to sense, compute, and act to perform tasks more efficiently and less expensively than can be done by humans. Some robots have obstacle-detecting sonar , sensors, cameras, and other types of technology that allow them to sense and interact with the world around them. Many are equipped with appendages (legs and arms) that allow them to move and interact with their environment.

Introduction: What Do Robotics Developers Do? 11